line."

"Quite," said Miss Carter.

That settled it; I felt I must stop her at all costs. I cleared my
throat and spoke as distinctly as I could.

"I'm always being asked a conundrum, Miss Carter, and you're the one
person who can tell me the true answer. Am I permitted to ask it?"

"Quite," said Miss Carter, for the first time almost smiling. I
plucked up courage.

"It's this: how old are you?"

She stopped herself just in time. Her answer was given in a tone
which expressed at the same time her contempt for my breach of the
conventions and the fact that she was too indifferent to think me
worth snubbing.

"Twenty-two," said she.

"Quite," said I.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR HAIR DONE, MADAM?"

"WELL, I WANT TO GET IT DEBOBBED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."]